The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right ankle and/or foot disabilities. The issue is whether these conditions are related to service, with particular focus on pes planus.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there were insufficient records of pre-service foot damage and thus could not establish by clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran had a pre-existing right ankle and/or foot disability other than pes planus at the time of entry into military service. The issue is now for direct service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle and/or foot disability, Pes planus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 23, 2022
- Citation
- 22010266
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 22010266.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the appellant's claim for an increased rating for pes planus of the left foot as he failed to report for a necessary VA examination without good cause.
- Denied
The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral foot pain disorder related to service and denied the claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's GERD is granted service connection. The claims for pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The PTSD rating is also remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for right knee injury pain. The claims of service connection for sleep apnea and pes planus are remanded due to the need for a VA examination considering toxic exposure risk activities.
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